Hybrid work—where employees spend part of their work week in the office and the rest working remotely—has become more of the norm than the exception throughout the pandemic. And it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. In fact, a hybrid work schedule is one of the most prominent perks candidates are looking for in a new job. And in this competitive market, it behooves employers to offer it.
However, when it comes to employee mental health and a hybrid model, the results aren’t so crystal clear. Does it help improve well-being or hurt it? We look at both sides, and most importantly, what HR teams can do to make it a successful benefit for their work force.
The pros of hybrid work
At the core of it, hybrid seems to be preferred because it allows employees more flexibility. This affords the opportunity to create a work-life balance unique to everyone’s needs. With a hybrid model, people can work when (and where) they are the most productive, and they aren’t generally constrained to a 9 to 5 work schedule.
In a report by Accenture, 40% of workers found they can be more productive and healthier when working with a hybrid model.
And a recent survey conducted by Salesforce stated that 59% of workers felt a hybrid work model contributes positively to their psychological well-being because they can take care of their personal business without the pressure of rigid work schedules.
Another benefit of time at home is that employees can take breaks when needed. According to recent studies, when workers can take breaks throughout their day, their overall performance, job satisfaction, and mental health go up.
The pros of a hybrid model are abundant when done correctly, but it takes effort and consistency from an organization to make sure it’s benefitting, not hurting, their employees.
The cons of hybrid work
Although hybrid work can have amazing benefits, there can be some downsides. When employees are at home, chained to their desks, they can face problems that they haven’t before. Many of the problems come from the connection of physical and mental health, mainly due to being less active throughout the day.
In a new survey of 2,000 workers, the insights were clear that remote work lends itself to less physical activity:
– 60% of employees admit cutting their mobility over 50% since working remotely.
– The average remote worker commutes just 16 steps from their bed to their workstation.
– Nearly half of all remote workers estimate they take fewer than 1,000 steps during work hours.
And unfortunately, these physical health indicators can have an impact on mental health. A study by OnePoll on behalf of Volley surveyed 2,000 work-from-home Americans to explore the social and mental health impacts of staying at home:
– 7 in 10 employees who work from home are feeling more isolated compared to being in the office.
– Many workers miss simple things such as in-person meetings (39%), office celebrations (35%) and after-work happy hours (34%).
– With the absence of in-person events, 63% felt less engaged with their team, as the average employee felt disconnected by August 2020.
– 3 in 5 find something lacking in the quality of communication with their co-workers, and 77% agree better communication leads to better work culture.
“The two main challenges with remote work are lack of communication and loneliness,” said Josh Little, Founder and CEO of Volley.
Make hybrid work successful for your organization
Hybrid work can combine the best of both worlds if done correctly. And part of that means communicating with your employees better by meeting them where they’re at. If you’re looking for a navigation and communication solution for HR professionals, turn to LearnYour Benefits. It’s an easy-to-use, video-focused platform that accelerates benefits knowledge through modern communication techniques, leading to happier and healthier employees.
If you’re interested in learning how to communicate more effectively with your employees, schedule a demo today.
